Child Support Services

The goal of the Colorado Child Support Services Program is to assure that all children receive financial and medical support from both parents. The Child Support Services Unit (CSS) provides services for establishing paternity and support obligations and enforcing child support payments.

Starting a Child Support Services Case

The State of Colorado Child Support Services Application for Services is required to open a case. Applications can be picked up in person (360 Peak One Dr., Suite 230, Frisco, CO 80443), sent by mail or can be downloaded from the State of Colorado website at State of Colorado Child Support. CSS also requires an initial intake interview with a Legal Case Specialist at the CSS office. Appointments can be made by calling the CSS office at 970-668-9161.
Documents required at the time of the interview are:

Copies of state issued birth certificate for all children

Copies of social security cards for all children

A photo ID of the person applying for services (drivers license, state ID, etc.)

A photograph of other party (if available)

Verifications of applicant income (3 most current paystubs and tax returns)

Copy of Marriage Certificate (if applicable)

Copies of any court orders signed by a judge or magistrate relating to the child support case

Allocation of Parental Responsibility orders (if applicable)

Petition and/or Divorce Decree and/or Separation Agreement

Copies of medical insurance cards for children (if applicable)

Fees

The application fee is $20.00 and due at the time of the initial interview. The applicant may request that the fee be waived when it presents financial hardship. Colorado Works (TANF) recipients will automatically be referred to the CSS office and will not be required to pay the application fee.

A $25.00 Intercept Processing Fee will be deducted from intercepted payments.

A $25.00 Arrears Processing Fee will be deducted every federal fiscal year once $500.00 has been paid to the custodial parent. This fee only applies to cases that are not currently receiving public assistance.

CSS represents the interest of the state in both TANF and non-TANF cases and not the interest of the individual who is seeking child support services. No attorney-client relationship or privilege exists.

Services Provided by CSS

Financial Support Order Establishment

- Establishing child support both administratively and judicially. Colorado has a law that explains the formula used to determine the amount of child support that will be ordered. The Colorado guidelines consider the following when calculating the child support payment.

The parents’ combined adjusted gross income

The amount of overnights exercised by both parties

The needs of the child in terms of extraordinary medical expenses and work-related daycare

Credits for payments on other child support or spousal support orders

Establishing Paternity

- Fatherhood must be legally recognized in order to obtain a child support order. The two ways to establish paternity are:

Establishing paternity through voluntary acknowledgment

Establishing paternity through legal action with genetic testing

Medical Support Establishment -The establishment and enforcement of court ordered medical support if the non-custodial parent is ordered to cover health care needs and if insurance is and available through the non-custodial employer at a reasonable cost. If the non-custodial parents’ employer is unknown, enforcement of the insurance is delayed until a current employer is found. This does not pertain to medical bills, only medical premiums are computed into the child support order.

Locate Absent Parents

- Locating absent parents using a number of state and federal databases.
Sources utilized by CSS are:

Department of Labor and Employment

Division of Motor Vehicles

US Postal Service

Financial References

Parole, Probation and Police Records

Public Assistance Offices

Internet Locate Site

National Directory of New Hire

Social Security Administration

Internal Revenue Service

Enforcement

-Summit County will enforce court-ordered child support orders until all obligations are satisfied. Enforcement remedies utilized by CSS are:

Income Assignments against Employment Wages

New Hiring Reporting

Income Assignments against Unemployment Compensation Benefits

Income Assignments against Worker’s Compensation Benefits Intercepts

Driver’s License Suspension

Professional Occupational License Suspension

Recreational License Suspension

Passport Denial

Federal and State Tax Offset

Financial Institution Data Match

Lottery Winnings Intercept/Gambling Payment Intercept

Credit Bureau Reporting

Judgments

Liens

Garnishments

Contempt

Review and Adjustments

Review and Adjustments can be requested by either party that has an opened enforcement case with CSS. A detailed written request must be submitted to the CSE office with income verifications. The timeframe for a review and adjustment is approximately three to six months from the time the request is received.

Request for reviews will be processed for following reasons:

An increase or decrease in either parties’ income

Medical insurance coverage changes

Increase or decrease in child care

Parenting time changes

Emancipation of a child on the order

If it has been three years since the order was established or reviewed.

Current child support is still due during a pending modification and will continue to be due and enforced until there is a signed order from the court reflecting a change.